Angle plate



Jan. 2, 1945. H, B, COMFQRT v 2,366,385

- ANGLE'PLATE Filed Aug.v 115, 1943 2 SheetSv-Sheet 1 Jan. 2, 1945. B, COMFORT v 2,366,385

ANGLE PLATE Filed Aug. 13, 1943 y2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /z--fl- J Patented Jan. 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l v I I 2,366,385 f ANGLE PLATE l Harry B. Comfort, Webster Groves, Mo. Application August 13, 1943, Serial No. 498,549

6 Claims. (Cl. 334-174) This invention relates to improvements in angle plates for holding work pieces in angular positions for lay-out or machining purposes, and the' principal object of my invention is to provide an improved device of this character which simplifies and facilitates the operation of setting up a work piece in a predetermined angularrposition.

With devices of this character which` are now on the market and available to tool and die makers considerable time and much experience is required in order to effect an accurate angular setting of the member which holds and positions the work. 'Ihe chief reason for the stated deficiencyvv of former devices is that settings thereof require the use of a height gage or other measuring instrument which must be adjusted pursuant to a trigonometric determination and applied with great nicety and precision to gage points on the device.

The principal object of my invention is achieved in the provision of an improved angle forming device wherein angular positions of the work holding member or index arm are determined mechanically and by means of a simple character which can be used by any novice or apprentice without previous experience. A further advantage is that the involvement of the human element which is the chief cause for error in the operation of formervdevices is largely eliminated by the device of my invention, andthe extreme simplicity of its operating method effects a considerable saving of the meohanics time.

These and other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings of a device embodying my invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View; Fig. 2 is a side elevational View; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of v Fig. 1;

Fig, 4 is a sectional view taken at 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional viewtaken at 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side view showing the work holding Referring now by characters of reference to the drawingsthe angle plate ofmy invention essentially consists of a plate member 25, preferably rectangular in form as shown, and having a front surface which is hat and smooth. On the flat front surface of platev 25 there is formed a graduated circular arc, such arc being defined by a series of uniformly spaced holes 29, each thereof being centered at one of the major angular divisions or graduations of the arc. These holes provide sockets for the mounting on the plate of cylindrical gage elements, to be hereinafter de; scribed, and the holes are accurately drilled so that their axes extend precisely at right angles to the planar front surface of the plate. In stating that the socket holes 29 are lccated'at the major divisions or angular graduations of the arc it is assumed that such major divisions occur at intervals of between one and ten degrees. In the embodiment of my inventio-n illustrated hereinv the holes are spaced at ve degree intervals,` such spacing having been determined to be most suitable for an angle plate of practical working size. As appears in Fig. l0 each hole is provided with a designationv of its angular value.

A drill hole at the center'of curvature of the graduated arc is provided for the reception of a pin 28, on which pin ispivotally mounted an index member or angle 4bar 21. The inner surface of bar 21 is at and smooth so as to make fiat, full surface contact with the face of the plate, and the upper and lower edges of the bar are straight and parallel. At its outer end the bar is preferably recessed vto provide an indented lower edge 33, such edge extending'across the graduated arc in parallel relation to the upper edge of the bar. l

The bar 21 is adapted to be set in any desired angular position within the range of the are by means of gage elements of the character illusf trated in Fig. 9. These gage elements have cylindrical headportions 30, and axially projecting stems 3| sized to t within the plate holes 29. When a gage head is mounted on the face of the plate in the manner indicated it provides a cylindrical abutment, or stop, which is engageable by the indented vedge portion 33 of the angle bar, the point of engagement occurring at the intersection of edge 33 with 'the graduated circular a'rc. It will be understood that the yangular position of bar 21 under these circumstances -is determined by the diameter. of the gage cylinder and by the particular hole 29 at which the gage cylinder is located.

There is thus included as an essential party of my invention, a full set of said gage elements, the

cylindrical head portions of which are of uniformly graded diameter and serve, in eiTect, to

sub-divide the spaces between consecutive holes ments is required; Such a set will include a socalled zero gage element for positioning the angle bar at the major angular divisions, which, in the present example, occur at degree intervals. It..

should be mentioned at this point that the shape, size and arrangement of parts is. such that when the angle bar is positioned by means of. the zero gage element located in the initial or zero degree hole of the series, the upper edge of the anglebar extends parallel with the upper edge of the plate.

To'determine the size of the gage elements of the set the radial dimension of the zero gage element is used: as a base and each succeeding gage cylinder is increased radially byan lamount which is. one-twentieth of the length of the arc between iive degree graduations, successive gages thereby varying by differences in angular value of one-quarter. ofy a degree; The described gages are suitably marked to designate their angular increment. or addendum value. Thus, any of the plate` holes 29 may" have its angularvalue increased byv mountingirr suchhole a gage cylinder having the desired angular: incrementY value.

WhereasA the majority of the gagexcyllnderszare desirably provided: with; stems: or.v mounting pins 3`I which are integrallyofbnned therewith it has been found expedient from thestandpoint of" accuracy and ease, of: manufacture tov form the larger sized gage cylinders'asycollars, and provide separate mounting pinsA therefor. Such collar type gages are designatedy 30hVV in Fig. 9.

In additionA to. the describedv cylinder gages, whichr enable` angular settings to a neness of one-quarter' of` a degree, orv fifteen minutes, to be obtained, there is provided. a set of' striptype or thicknessv gageswhich enable a further subdivision; to the order' ofA one-sixtieth of* a degree or oneminute to be. realized; Onev gage stripl of the set thereof will be ofthicknessv which is onethree-hundredths ofthe arcuate distancebetween centers ofthe iive degreeplateholes, and such strip" gage. will then have arr-angular addendum value of one-sixtieth of* a degree or'one minute.

A set of: fourl strip gages ofj proper: thickness to yieldv angles of one minute, two minutes, four minutes'ancl eight minutes' respectively will, when used singly or in combination, be suilicientv to yield* any" angle of from one` minute to fifteen minutes; Accordingly; by a' proper' combination of" cylinder and strip` gages used in the manner shown in Fig. 1'0,r the strip gage being; designated 32. the fived'egree angular `spacingscf holes 29' may: be broken downto units ofY one minute.

For example, where. it isdesired to set: the. angle bar^2.1' atan angie. of 29 5'7" vthe 43/4'` (four' de.'- grees, forty-five. minutes); cylinder'gage'is selected from the setand inserted` in the' plate hole marked 25', thus providingA forA an angular settingA of 29'56'. The additional 12minutes' are obtained bycombi-ning the 8. and: 4 strip gages andv plac-y ing. thsm between the. adjacent surfacevr of' the angle barand cylindergage,l intheN manner illus:- trated in Fig'.v IO; and theA angular setting of the example is` obtained. l

The-described angle plate is providedwlt'fi Snitable means whereby it may be attached to any of the various types of angulate base blocks, socalled tool-makers knees, or the like, so to provide such articles with the angle setting facilities of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings the angle plate is shown to be mounted on an improved adjustable base or mounting structure whereby accurate angular settings for two directions of inclination may be obtained. Such base structure comprises a stationary support consisting of a horizontal plate member I2 and a bracket plate I4, thesemembers being fixedly united together at right angles. Mounted for pivotal movement on the stationary support is an angularly: adjustable member having plate-like arm portions I8 and I9 extending at right angles to each other. Pivot means for the adjustable plate member I'4-I5 includes a shaft I 6 which extends parallel to the bottom surface I3 of base member I2` and at' right angles to member I4. The opposite ends of shaft I6l are seated in alined bearing apertures I1`, one formed in vertical plate member I4and the` other in a bearing lug I5 on the horizontal plate member I2. The plate member I8 is provided with a groove 20 that parallels the outer face of plate I9 and such groove accommodates shaft I6 which is iixedly secured therein by screws ZI. The described mounting provisions for plate I9 enable it tobe disposed in various angular positions; f

Meansy for setting ,the adjustable plate I9v in denitepredetermined angular positions are provided, such means being similar to those described in connection with the angle bar 21. Thus, plate I4- isu provided with an arcuate series of holes 22 For the reception of stems 3I- of cylindrical gage elements 30: The series of holes 22 are in every respect identical with the series of holes 29 in plate 25, previously described, so that the same set of' gage elements may be employed to eie'ct accurate angular settings for both of the adjustable parts, to` wit, the angle bar 21 and the plate member I-9.

The manner in which the cylindrical gages 30 are used to x the angular position of the adjustable plate structure I84-I9' is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 6 and 7. With reference to Fig.` 3 a zero gage cylinder 30a is shown mounted in the initial or zero degree hole to provide a supporting abutment' for plate I8. Such condition provides for a right angular relationship between bottom surface I3 of plate I2 and front surface 24 of plate |19. The surface plate 25 with its angularly settablebar 21 is shown tobe detachablysecured to plate I9 by means of screws 26.

The angle forming devicelof my invention may be employed in a variety of useful ways in the machine shopv and tool room. Its principal application is for holding a work piece at a predetermined angle forl machining purposes. This is accomplished byA utilizing the pre-set angle bar 21v as a shelf to position thework piece, which is then tightly clamped byv suitable meansA to the plate 25.'.

From the foregoing description itl will appear that angular settings of the bar' 21 may-be accurately and quickly obtained by the means of m invention.

What I claim and desire to Patent is: v

1. An angleioi'ming device of the character described comprising a base, a platefmember carried thereby; said'pla'te memberhaving a plane iront surfaceand a graduated circular are desecure by Letters fined thereon by a series of holes in the plate, each hole being centered at one of the major divisions or graduations of the arc, an angle bar pivotally mounted on the front surface of said plate on an axis coincident with the center of said arc, a set of cylindrical gage elements of graded diameter, successive elements of the set differing in radial dimension by a distance which, on said circular arc, corresponds to a fraction of one degree, and gage mounting pins disposable in said holes, whereby any selected one of said gage cylinders may be mounted on the front surface of said plate coaxially with any selected one of said holes, such that selected gage cylinder provides an abutment for one side of said angle bar and serves to fix the angular position thereof.

2. iAn angle forming device of the character described comprising a base, a plate having a planar front surface and a graduated circular arc thereon, defined by a series of cylindrical socket recesses, each thereof centered at one of the major divisionsor graduations of said arc, an angle bar pivotally mounted on the front surface of said plate at the center of said circular arc, a set of gage elements consisting of cylinders of graded radial dimensions, the radial differentialv between successive elements of the set being uniform and a fractional part of the arcuate distance between centers of adjacent said holes, and means for mounting any selected one of said gage cylinders coaxial with any selected socket recess, such that the mounted gage cylinder provides an abutment for one side of said angle bar and serves to establish the angular position thereof.

3. In an angle forming device of the character described, a flat surface plate having a graduated circular arc defined thereon by a series of holes in the plate, each hole having its center located at one of the major divisions or graduations of said arc, an angle bar pivotally mounted on said plate on an axis coincident with the center of said arc, and means for setting said angle bar in any predetermined angular position within the scope of said arc, said means including a set of cylindrical gage elements, each having a mounting pin ing axis of said plate, said plate having a series vof holes spaced at equal angular intervals along adapted to seat in any one of said holes, and a cylindrical head portion adapted, when mounted on the plate by its pin, to provide a lateral abutment for said angle bar, the cylindrical head portions being of uniformly graded diameter and successive ones of the set differing in radial dimension by a distance which, on said circular arc, corresponds to a fraction of one degree; said means further including a plurality of flat gage strips adapted for application, individually or in stacked extending at right angles to the pivotal mounta circular arc described about the pivotal axis of said bar, means for fixing the angular position of said bar on said plate, said means including af set of cylindrical gages of graded diameter, succesive elements of the set differing in radial dimension by a small fractional part of the arcuate distance between centers of successive holes of said series, and gage mounting pins disposable in said holes, whereby any selected gage element may be mounted on the front surface of said plate coaxially with any selected hole of said series, such thatfthe selected gage -provides an abutment for one side of said bar.

-5. In an `angle setting device of the character described, a base, a rigid plate-like member carried by said base and having one face thereof characterized by a true planar surface, at least one marginal edge of said member at said face, A

being .of rectilinear extent, an angle-setting arm, a pivot on said member adjacent one end of said marginal edge, said pivot supporting said arm for swinging movement over said planar face, said member being provided with a plurality of recesses in said face, arranged in an arc extending from adjacent the opposite end of said marginal edge and having its center coincident with the axis ofsaid pivot, said recesses being equally spacedangularly to the extent of ve degrees, and a set of differential stop elements providing generally cylindrical abutments of graded diameter, adapted for engagement with said arm, said stop elements being selectable for positionment selectively, in

said recesses for abutment by said arm to rdetermine thereby and in accordance with the selection of said stop elements, the angular position of said arm relative vto said rectilinear marginal edge, in multiples of live degrees and in multiples of ve degrees plus increments of less than five degrees.

6. An angle forming device of the character described comprising a base having a bracket plate extending vertically therefrom, an angularly adjustable support pivoted to said base, the pivota1 axis of said support extending at right angles to said bracket plate, a surface plate carried by said support, an angularly adjustable bar mounted yonvthe face of said surface plate and pivoted thereto, the axis of bar movement extending at right angles to the axis of movement of the surface plate, said surface plate and said bracket plate each having a series of equally spaced holes I extending along arcuate paths of equal radius, the

centers of said arcuate paths being located at the pivotal axes of said bar and said surface plate respectively, each of said holes identifying a particular angular position of the pivoted member related thereto, and cylindrical stop elements adapted to be selectively positioned in said holes and to project therefrom into the paths of movement of said support and said bar, whereby to engage the sides of these members and to x their respective angular positions, said stop elements having cylindrical abutment heads of graded diameter for effecting settings of said pivoted members at various angles embraced between particular angles identified with said holes.

. HARRY B. COMFORT. 

